Dirt distributor and packer for roads



G. R. CALKINS DIRT DISTRIBUTOR AND PACKER FOR ROADS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1925 March 23 1926.

, G. R. CALKINS 'DIRT DISTRIBUTOR AND PACKER FOR ROADS Filed April 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 5% 1 i Q a E M f w w 0.

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Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNiTED STATES GEORGE R. CALKINS, OF MONTEBELLO, CALIFORNIA.

DIRT DISTRIBUTOR AND PACKER FOR ROADS.

Application filed April 23, 1925. Serial No. 25,306.

T alZw/ wm it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE R. GALKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montebello, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dirt Distributors and Packers for Roads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in dirt distributors and packers for roads or to devices commonly known as road drags.

An object of this invention is to provide a road drag which is of simple and rugged construction andwhich will rub or scrape off bumps as the device is drawn over a road to distribute the dirt scraped and pack the dirt in the hollows in the road.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved road drag,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

4c is a horizontal section taken on the line 4. 4;'0f Fig. 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the device consists of a top plate 10, upon the under side of which are secured longitudinal members 11. These longitudinal members are in the form of large angle irons and are secured to the top plate as by rivets 12. The longitudinal members 11 are shown as being four in number, two of which are arranged at the sides of the top plate and two arranged intermediate the sides of the top plate 10. In the longitudinal members 11 there are formed two notches 13 and 14 adjacent the front or forward ends of these members, and notches 15 and 16 are arranged near the rearward ends of these members. Blades 17, 18,19 and 20 are disposed within the notches 13, 14, 15 and 16 respectively. Each of the blades consists of a body 21 presenting an upwardly and for-.

I wardly inclined flat surface 22. At the bottomof tlle bo y 2 there s termed a rear of about 60 deg. with the horizontal.

wardly extending foot 23 of considerable thickness, and this foot presents a smooth bottom or road engaging surface 24. The

' bodies 21 of each of the blades are secured to the longitudinal members 11 as by angles 25 which are riveted as by rivets 26 to the longitudinal members, and bolts 27 detachably secure the bodies 21 of the blades to the angles 25.

As clearly shown upon Fig. 1, the forward faces 22 of the bodies 21 of each of the blades have different inclinations. The forward face 22 of the blade 17 is preferably at such an inclination as to form an angle The inclination of the forward face 22 of the blade 18 forms an angle of about deg. with the horizontal. In a similar manner the faces 22 of the blades 19 and 20 form angles of approximately 40 deg. and 30 deg. respectively with the horizontal. It will thus be appreciated that the forward faces of the forward pair of blades are steeper than the forward faces of the rearward pair of blades, and the forward face of the forward blade of each pair is steeper than the forward face of the rearward blade of each pair. The blades are preferably formed of a good grade of cast steel, and as no attempt is made to provide an adjustment of the blades upon the drag, as in some prior constructions, the blades can be rigidly and securely fastened upon the drag.

As the device is drawn over a road, the edge presented by the forward blade 17 serves to rub or scrape off the bumps. The edge present-ed by the blade 18 also serves to accomplish this purpose and to spread or distribute the dirt scraped off into the hollows or ruts in the. road. As the forward faces 22 of the rearward blades 19 and 20 are notso steep, these blades serve to roll over and pack the dirt in the hollows or ruts, so that a smooth firm road is formed as the device is drawn over it.

The device is drawn by means of a pair of tow arms 28, which are pivoted, as at 29,

upon the sides of the outer longitudinal members 11. The forward end of each of the arms has a plurality of apertures 30 formed therein adapted to receive a hook or clevis 31 provided upon a tow element 32, shown as consisting of a chain which may be drawn by a tractor or the Elongated slots 33 are formed in the forward ends of the tow arms 28 and teeth 34 are formed upon the forward edges of these slots. A rock sl'iaft 35 is rotatable upon the forward ends of the longitudinal members 11, and the ends of the rock shaft are provided with pinions 36 which mesh with the teeth 84. The rock shaft 35 carries a sprocket 37. In the top plate 10 there is formed a slot 88 and a suitable mounting'39 is mounted on the top plate 10 which carriesa quadrant 4-0 on which teeth are formed, and which pivotally supports a lever 41. A chain 42 has its ends secured to the lever 41 above and below the point of pivot 43. This chain extends around the sprocket 87. The lever ll can be maintained in any adjusted position by means of a pawl carried thereby, which engages with teeth upon thequadrant 40. Upon movement of the lever 41, the shaft 35 will be rotated, causing the pinions 36 to move the forward ends of thetow arms 28 up or down, as the case may be. If the forward ends of the tow arms 28 are moved downwardly, the direction of pull of the tow element 32 is such as to tend to lift the forward end of the drag, so that the forward blades 17 and 18 will not take a very great cut. The weight being thrown upon the rear of the drag, the loose dirt will be more firmly packed. It will be appreciated that the arms 28 are to be moved downwardly when the drag is drawn over a soft a hard bump, the center bladewould tend to lift the ends of the drag off of the ground, enabling it to rock, and thus gouge, out the road. By having the blades arranged at the front and rear only, there can be no rocking action, regardless of the height of the bumps.

From the above it will beappreciated that an improved road drag is provided, which is of simple and rugged construction, and which will efficiently smooth ofi roads, distributing the dirt inrthe hollows .and packing the dirt therein, so to form a smooth road.

It will beunderstood that various changes in thedetail' of construction will be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

I 1. In a road drag, a 'bladehaving a body presenting a front face which is upwardly ,andffor-wardly inclined, and "a rearwardly egtendmg comparat vely thick foot arranged" adjacent the bottom of the blade, said footpresenting a smooth horizontal road engaging surface.

2. A road drag comprising a body, a plurality of blades secured to the body and extending transversely thereacross, each blade having a body presenting an upwardly and forwardly inclined front face, and a flat,

road engaging surface at the bottom thereof.

3. A road drag comprising a body, a plurality of blades secured to the body and extending transversely thereacross, each blade having a body presenting an upwardly and blades secured to the'body adjacent its rear and extending transversely thereacross', the blades having bodies presenting front faces which are upwardly and forwardly inclined, the inclinations of the faces of the forward pair of blades being steeper than the inclinations of the faces of the rearward pair of blades. I

6.21 road drag con'iprisinga body two blades secured to the body adjacent its front and extending transversely thereacross, two blades secured to the body adjacent its rear and extending transversely thereacross, the blades having bodies presenting front faces which are upwardly and forwardly inclined, the inclinations of the faces of the forward blades of each pair being steeper than the inclinations of the faces on the rearward blades of each pair.

'4". A road drag comprising a body, two blades secured to the body adjacent its front and extending transversely thereacross, and two blades securedto the bony adjacent its rear and extending transversely 'thereacross, the blades having bodies presenting front faces which are upwardly and forwardly in: clined, the inclinations of the faces of the forward pair of blades being'steeper than the inclinations of the faces of the rearware pair of blades, the inclinations of the faces of the forward blades of each pair'being steeper than the inclinations of the faces on the rearward blades vof each pair;

8. A roaddrag comprisingaitop plate,

longitudinal; members secured upon the un der side of said top plate,tl e:'e being; notches fennel seal lama-bars and, tr ns se y extending blades disposed Within said notches and secured to said members.

9. A road drag comprising a top plate, longitudinal members secured upon the under side of said top plate, there being notches formed in said members, and transversely extending blades disposed Within said notches and secured to said members, each blade presenting an upwardly and for- Wardly inclined surface and a flat smooth ground engaging surface.

10. A road drag comprising a top plate, longitudinal members secured upon the under side of said top plate, there being notches formed in said members, and transversely extending blades disposed Within said notches and secured to said members, each blade presenting an upwardly and forwardly inclined surface and a flat smooth ground engaging surface, the inclinations of the forward faces of the blades being steepest adjacent the front of the drag and decreasing in steepness rearwardly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thls speclfication.

GEORGE R. OALKINS. 

